Partners in Change managing director Geoff Pearman, of Brisbane, who is to speak at the launch of the Otago Careers Festival in Dunedin on Monday, said people 65 years and older were staying in the workforce by choice and necessity.
''They are living longer, they want to stay at work ... and some financially need to.''
In 20 years, the number of people aged 65 years and older working in New Zealand was expected to double. In 2021, the age group was expected to be 9% of the workforce and then increase to 12% in 2031.
Employers needed to ensure they retained older staff, because declining birth rates would make sourcing staff more difficult in the future, he said.
There was no proof to the popular belief that older workers displaced youth from entering the workforce.
''It's the same argument as back in the 1960s, that said, if women participated in the workforce, it was going to displace men. It didn't happen.''
In fact, research revealed that businesses prospered with an older workforce.
Mr Pearman said Dunedin businesses needed to stopmarketing to younger consumers and ''tap into the huge boomer market''.
''The big market with the money is 55-plus.''
Otago Careers Festival steering group chairman Pete McBeth said the festival, in its sixth year, showcased many of the careers available in Otago.
''If you're interested in business, if you're an employer, a student, a jobseeker, a migrant, whatever, there is something at the festival to support and clarify your career aspirations.''
